TLI Staff
New Delhi: In a much needed-relief to commuters and transporters, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has permitted highway development agency NHAI to operate up to 25 per cent of the toll lanes as hybrid lanes at toll plazas thus ensuring payment of toll in cash or digital mode such as hand-held Post devices.
The relaxation would, however, be available for only 30 days as the plan is to eventually convert all toll lanes into FasTag lanes.
“Depending on the traffic pile up at high traffic volume plazas, not more than 25 per cent FasTag lane of toll plazas may be temporarily converted to hybrid lanes,” the MoRTH communication to NHAI said.
Besides, NHAI would deploy traffic marshals at toll plazas to guide vehicles starting December 15, launch date for converting toll lanes into FasTag lanes.
The Ministry had earlier directed conversion of all toll lanes at toll plazas into RFID technology-based Fasting lanes. A FasTag affixed on the windscreen of the vehicles allow payment of toll automatically by debiting the amount from the linked bank account. This eliminates the need for waiting at toll plazas thus ensuring seamless traffic. Fasting saves time and cost.
The Ministry had in its earlier order directed NHAI to convert all toll lanes into FasTag lanes. The relaxation has now been provided to minimize convenience to general public.
“It should be ensured that the least possible number of the declared FasTag lane of fee plaza be converted into the hybrid lanes temporarily and further that at least 75 per cent lanes of every fee plaza remain declared and operational as FasTag lane of fee plaza in order to incentivize the vehicles carrying FasTag,” the MoRTH letter issued on Saturday said.
The Ministry clarified that it is a temporary measure to be adopted for 30 days only to facilitate smooth flow of traffic so that no inconvenience is caused to the citizens.
The NHAI would assess the traffic flow on daily basis and take corrective action to ensure seamless flow of traffic. It will also send daily report to the administrative Ministry to keep it updated on the successful implementation of the plan.